Means for preventing the backward propagation of flame along a conduit conveying combustible gaseous mixtures.



A. 0! IONIDES, JR. MEANS FOR PREVENTING THE BACKWARD PROPAGATION 0F FI AME ALONG A GONDUIT CONVEYING UOMBUSTIBLE GASEOUS MIXTURES.

APPLICATION FILED 00124, 1912.

1,068,904, Patented July 29, 1913.

* @MWJMM jlttruvzgya snares PATE T ornron ALEXANDER ooNsrANrINE IONIDES, an, or LoNnoN, ENGLAND.

MEANS Eon PREVENTING THE BACKWARD PROPAGATION or FLAME ALONG A Specification of Letters Patent.

CONDUIT CONVEYING COMBUSTIBLE GASEOUS MIXTURES.

Application filed October 4, 1912. Serial No. 723,970.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALEXANDER CON- STANTINE IONIDES, J r., asubjcct of the King of Great Britain-and Ireland, and residing at 34 Porchester Terrace, London, W., England, have invented certain new and useful in'lprovements in and relating to means for preventing the backward propagation of aflame along a conduit conveying combustible-gaseous mixtures, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for preventing the backward propagation of flame in a conduit conveying a mixture of'com- 15 bustible gas and a supporter of combustion, and particularly to those of the type. employing a non-return valve which is closed by the pressure resulting from the backward propagation. In suclrdevices as at present proposed, much trouble arises from leaking of the valve after continued use, or merely on account of grit settling between the valve and itsseating; Thus quite frequently such devices fail to prevent passage of the flame, even although the valve has been closed.

The object of the present invention is to overcome this disadvantage ind to provide an improved form of device which shall always be reliable in action.

The invention consists in a device of the above type, in which a liquid, displaced through the open valve by the pressure of the backwardly propagated flame, seals the valve on both sides thereof when closed.

The invention also consists in the improved device for preventing the propagation of a back fire as hereinafter described.

According to the method of carrying the invention into effect illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which shows in sectional elevation a, form of device according to the present'invention, there is pro vided at a suitable point in a conduit, 0, betweenthe source of the combustible gaseous mixture and the place Where ignition takes place a chamber, 5, containing a liquid, usually castor oil, the surface area of which is considerably greater than the cross sectional area of the conduit, (a The incoming part o of the conduit, u, projects below the level, (i, (l, of the liquid in the chamber, I), while the outgoing art, 0, communicates with the space, f, a ove said liquid,

the conduit part, 6-, being formed concentrically with the incoming part, 0, for some distance along the latter. A simple nonreturn valve, m, which utilizes as a seating the end of the immersed conduit part, c, is mounted upon a guided spindle, n, which passes axially through the conduit party 0, and carries at its upper end suitable ant matic means such as an enlargement, 0, which engaging with-a spring, 7), holds the valve, m, on its seating when the valve attains the uppermost position. The valve, m is preferably of circular cross section which increases in area toward the end immersed in liquid and has an external surface preferably of such a form as to provide between the same and its seating a passage of as nearly as possible constant cross sectional area when the valve is fully open;-

In order that the large surface area of the liquid in the chamber, 1), may be utilized to the best advantage, suitable deflecting means such as a plate 9 attached .to the conduit part, 0, may be provided to direct the back-' pressure of lhe incom ng mixture depressesthe liquid within the immersed condult part, c, until the mixture passes freely-into the space, above the liquid, andfrom thence to the other conduit art, 6, flow being indicated by the arrows. 5

On the occurrence of a. back fire the liqhid is displaced into the immersed conduit-part, 0, but at the same time the ressure exerted on the valve, m, closes the atter which remains closed on account of the spring,

- Patented July 29, 1,913. I

the direction of now engaging the enlargemenho, on t e valve spindle, n. The conduit is thus com pletely closed by a valve,.m, which is sealed on both sides by liquid. Consequently; the

backward propagation of flame along the conduit is prevented and until the valve, m,

is opened by hand, there is no fiow'of mixture along the conduit, and no leakage past the valve, even although grit may settle between the same and its seating.

Many further modifications, it -will be seen, can be made in the details of carrying the invention into efiiect without in any Way departing from the spirit of the same.

I claim:

1.- .A device for preventing the backward propagation of flame along a conduit conveying combustible gaseous mixture, comprising in combination a chamber situated between the ends of saidconduit, and formingpart thereof, said chamber containing a liquid which seals the incoming part of the conduit, a non-return valve adapted to close L- tained in an annular channel, the surface of said incoming part, said liquid being con which is curved to form a central raised part 1 immediately below said valve, whereby on theoccurrence of a backwardly propagated flame, some of the liquid seals the incoming conduit part while some, in sweeping around said curved surface, closes said valve which is thus sealed by the liquid.

-2. A device for preventing the backward propagation of flame along a conduit conve 1n combustible aseous mixture com prising in combination a chamber situated between the ends of the conduit and forming a part thereof, said chamber containing a liquid which seals the incoming part of the conduit, a non-return valve adapted to close said incoming conduit part, said liquid being contained in an annular channel, the surface of which is curved to form a central raised part below said valve, means directing a backwardly propagated flame toward the periphery of the liquid surface, and means for holding the valve in the closed position until released by hand, whereby on the occurrence of a backwardly propagated flame, the nonreturn valve closes the conduit and is sealed by liquid.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALEXANDER CONSTANTINE IONIDES, JR:

Witnesses:

O. J. VVonTH, CARL R. LooP. 

